Defense attorney in prostitution case speaks out

KENNEBUNK, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- An attorney for a man from Thomaston charged with promotion of prostitution says his client was conducting his own investigation into the Kennebunk Police Department.

Mark Strong is facing promotion of prostitution charges in connection with an alleged prostitution business in Kennebunk that was posing as a Zumba studio. Strong's attorney, Dan Lilley, says his client did loan the owner, Alexis Wright, money to start the Zumba studio, but he never profited from it. He also says that Strong, who is also a private investigator, was looking into claims that the Kennebunk Police Department was harassing Wright. Lilley says once police release more information about the alleged prostitution operation, he plans to turn to the other people involved to prove his client's innocence.

"I understand some of the people who were her clients are prominent businessmen in the area and I aim to find out their names, their addresses, and if necessary cross examine them on the stand to see why my client is included in that pool when he had never patronized that place" Lilley told NEWS CENTER.

A spokesperson for the Kennebunk Police Department denied any claims of harassment, saying that the department investigates harassment, it does not engage in it. Police have also said that more charges are likely to be filed in this case.